Localities work hard to tackle African swine fever

Localities where African swine fever was found have made all-out efforts to control the disease, preventing it from spreading.

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There is currently no antidote or vaccine against African swine fever, with the only known preventative measure is a mass cull of infected livestock.

In the Red River Delta province of Hai Duong, which had reported African swine fever in 13 townships and communes as of March 11, district-level steering boards have been established to instruct the localities to implement counter measures.

Local bureaus of agriculture and rural development and agricultural service centres have kept a close watch on pig farms and decontaminated breeding areas, slaughter-houses and markets.

The provincial Sub-department of Animal Health has sent technical staff to localities to guide them how to deal with outbreaks in accordance with the process.

At the same time, the communication work has been stepped up in order to raise public awareness of the disease.

Meanwhile, in the central province of Thanh Hoa, African swine fever has been recorded in four communes of Thieu Hoa district, with 123 pigs weighing 7.5 tonnes culled.

Although quarantine stations have been set up in communes and towns across the district, they have yet proven effective due to the neglect of officers in charge.

In Hanoi where African swine fever has been spotted in five districts – Long Bien, Dong Anh, Hoang Mai, Gia Lam and Soc Son, joint efforts have been made to control the disease.

Apart from inspecting transport and slaughter activities, competent agencies have also sterilised breeding facilities and tested samples taken from local herds.

The municipal Department of Education and Training has asked schools to use pork with clear origin and good quality to prepare meal for students.

New outbreaks of African swine fever have been detected in the northern provinces of Quang Ninh, Ninh Binh and Nam Dinh, raising the total number of affected localities to 13.

African swine virus does not affect humans but causes haemorrhagic fever in pigs and wild boars that is almost always fatal. There is currently no antidote or vaccine, with the only known preventative measure is a mass cull of infected livestock. The disease spreads by contact between infected pigs or other wild animals and can inflict massive economic damage on farms.